CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team will officially open up the 2017 season Fri., Sept. 1 at the South Central Classic in Durant, Okla. The Golden Eagles will play four matches on the campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University at Bloomer Sullivan Arena. All the matches will be against regional opponents from either the MIAA or the GAC. The matches will mark the debut for Head Coach Sarah Rauen, who spent the last four years as an assistant coach at North Dakota State University.

South Central Classic
Location: Durant, Okla.
Arena: Bloomer Sullivan Arena

Match 1
Minnesota Crookston vs. #21 Central Missouri
Fri., Sept. 1 - 12 p.m.
Live Video - http://www.citylinktv.com/channel/durant-mix-tv/
Match 2
Minnesota Crookston at Southeastern Oklahoma State
Fri., Sept. 1 - 2 p.m.
Live Video - http://www.citylinktv.com/channel/durant-southeastern-sports/
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/se/wvball/
Match 3
Minnesota Crookston vs. Southern Nazarene
Sat., Sept. 2 – 10 a.m.
Live Video - http://www.citylinktv.com/channel/durant-southeastern-sports/
Match 4
Minnesota Crookston vs. Ouachita Baptist
Sat., Sept. 2 – 2 p.m.
Live Video - http://www.citylinktv.com/channel/durant-southeastern-sports/

Minnesota Crookston Preview
The Golden Eagles are coming off of a 10-18 mark on the 2016 season, but look poised to improve on the 2017 season as they improve five starters from last year's roster. The U of M Crookston will be led by their trio of redshirt seniors, who have had great careers in the Maroon and Gold. Maggie Perrel (R-Sr., OH, New Germany, Minn.) led the team with 3.50 kills per set last season and hit .146 on the season. Kassi Green (R-Sr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) also will make a major impact on the outside after averaging 2.66 kills per set as a junior. In the middle, look for Kelci Green (R-Sr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) to set the tone after averaging 2.66 kills and 0.78 blocks per set last season. In the middle, also look for returning starter Callie Schapekham (Jr., MH, Eagan, Minn.) to continue to improve. Schapekahm tallied 0.52 blocks per set as a sophomore.
Defensively, libero Ali Schueler (R-So., Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) returns after starting last season. Schueler tallied 3.72 digs per set as a freshman.
The key position the Golden Eagles will look to replace is setter where they lost four-year starter Sierra Trost. The U of M Crookston has three setters on the roster heading into the season opener. Kaycie Hagen (Sr., S, Savage, Minn.) has split time between defensive specialist and setter in her career, but looks poised to make an impact at setter as a senior. The Golden Eagles also return Alex Oakes (R-So., S, Cloquet, Minn.) and added Sydney Kruisselbrink (Fr., S, Rochester, Minn.) to the fray.


The Golden Eagles also return experience off of the bench at all positions from last season. On the outside, Rachel Freund (R-Jr., OH, Jordan, Minn.) returns the fray. In the middle, Kaitlin Sikkink (R-So., MH, St. Charles, Minn.) saw a lot of game action as a redshirt freshman. Alyssa Muelken (Sr., MH, Savage, Minn.) has also seen the court for the U of M Crookston. At defensive specialist, Becca Vandenheuvel (Sr., DS, Cannon Falls, Minn.) has a lot of match experience.

The U of M Crookston also brings in unproven talent with outside hitters Lauren Wallace (Fr., Bloomington, Minn.) and Deaira Gresham (Fr., OH, Maplewood, Minn.) and defensive specialist Katie Lienemann (Fr., DS, Rosemount, Minn.). Alyssa Thomas (R-Fr., OH, Marion, Iowa) was on the team last season but did not see game action.

Central Missouri
The University of Central Missouri is ranked No. 21 in the nation coming into the season. The Jennies went 23-10 during the 2016 season. The Jennies are a relatively different team last season with 10 new players of the 20 they carry on the roster.

Central Missouri is led offensively by returning starters Kylie and Kasey Hohlen. Kylie Hohlen averaged 2.59 kills per set last season, while Hohlen tallied 2.53 kills per set and 0.58 blocks per set. In addition, Central Missouri returns right-side hitter Molly Lawrence, who tallied 2.23 kills per set. Defensively, the Jennies look to libero Katie Carlson, who averaged 3.27 digs per set, along with Kylie Hohlen's 3.82 digs per set. Carly Offerdahl also returns after tallying 3.66 digs per set.

Southeastern Oklahoma State
Tournament host Southeastern Oklahoma State is coming off of a 15-17 mark in 2016. Junior right-side hitter Abby Jameson leads the way for the Savage Storm after averaging 3.37 kills per set last season. Southeastern Oklahoma State also returns middle blocker Arianna Baker, who tallied 1.82 kills and 0.57 blocks per set last season. At setter, the Savage Storm looks to senior Alissa Benson, who averaged 10.30 assists per set as a junior.

Defensively, Southeastern Oklahoma State returns sophomore Caitlin Cosby, who tallied 5.76 digs per set last season.

Southern Nazarene
Southern Nazarene University went 20-11 last season and made it all the way to the NCAA Central Region Championship where they lost to Minnesota Crookston's NSIC foe and eventual National Champion Concordia University-St. Paul.

The Storm will look to middle blocker McKayla Benner, who was second on the team with 2.91 kills per set last season. She also tallied 0.93 blocks per set. However, Southern Nazarene must replace almost all of their offensive production outside of Benner. Makenna Hunter was the next best returnee with 1.57 kills per set.

At setter, Southern Nazarene returns Elyse Berlin, who tallied 10.55 assists per set in 2016.

Ouachita Baptist
Ouachita Baptist University is coming off of a 23-7 mark last season. The Lady Tigers are led by 6-2 middle hitter Kori Bullard, who led the team with 2.88 kills and 0.90 blocks per set. Ouachita Baptist also returns Adrianna Nolly, who tallied 2.73 kills per set and Tabetha Huckabee, who averaged 2.72 kills per set.

At setter, the Lady Tigers look to Stormi Leonard, who notched 10.60 assists per set last season.